Two faculty members, Harlan Butt and David Taylor, will gather inspiration from nature when they complete projects as fellows in UNT's Institute for the Advancement of the Arts in the 2014-15 academic year.

Three faculty members will get a semester off from teaching so they can paint, write and compose music, which will enhance their students' learning environment when they return to the classroom — thanks to a UNT Institute for the Advancement of the Arts fellowship they each received for the 2013-14 academic year.

UNT's Institute for the Advancement of the Arts gave two faculty members a rare commodity — time. The institute's faculty fellows program gives honorees a semester off from teaching to work on their own creative projects. This year, Vincent Falsetta, professor of studio arts, will work on his paintings, and Miroslav Penkov, assistant professor of English, will write a novel.

Erick Swenson’s (’99) representational sculptures of animals — made out of polyurethane plastics — have drawn international acclaim as part of exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York City, the Saatchi Collection in London and, most recently, his own show at the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas that runs through July 8.

More than 80 pieces of art are displayed on UNT's campus, including the works of 13 alumni. These pieces represent media such as sculpture, fiber, painting and drawing, and can be found outdoors and inside buildings on campus.

Gerald Knezek, Regents Professor of learning technologies, was awarded a Fulbright Senior Specialist appointment to the University of Twente in the Netherlands in 2011-12. He conducted research and presented seminars in technology innovation and integration into educational environments.